- What facilities are available at hostels?
You will need to check the microsite for each specific hostel as facilities differ from hostel to hostel and from country to country. Most hostels have self-catering facilities and almost all have lockers for safe-keeping of valuables. Some have bars, and depending on where you go some even have swimming pools and saunas! Almost all hostels provide internet access and international telephones so you can stay in touch no matter where you are.
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- Do I need to bring my own bed linen or sleeping bag?
Bedding & Linen – While some hostels do provide linen free of charge, others will apply a charge for this service. All hostels provide duvets or blankets and private rooms will usually include linen. Once again, it is worth checking the hostel's microsite before travelling.
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- Are the rooms en suite (private bath)?
En suite – Some rooms in hostels have en suite facilities, i.e. – private shower and/or toilet. These rooms are generally limited, however, and are very much in demand. They are also slightly more expensive.
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- Is there any membership requirement?
There are no membership requirements for any hostels listed on hostelworld.com, however some hostels do offer discounts for various card-holding members.
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- What are private rooms?
In order to secure a Private Room, you will need to book the entire room. For example, three persons booking a four-bed private room will need to select and pay for four persons if they wish to have a private room. If you set your preference to private room and there is no private room availability, the website will offer the best alternative available.
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- Do the hostels close during the day, and is there any curfew?
There is no curfew or closing time in most hostels but you should check the microsite for your particular hostel to confirm that this is the case with regard to your specific accommodation.
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- What are shared rooms?
Shared Rooms are dormitory style and range in size from four beds upwards. They offer mixed accommodation unless alternative arrangements have been made in advance with the hostel. Certain hostels do accommodate guests in single sex-sex dorms, if this is the case it will be indicated on the hostel's microsite.
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- Is there any age limit?
While most hostels do not impose an age restriction, this is not always the case, particularly in establishments which have a bar on the premises. Again, it is recommended that you check the hostel's microsite to find out whether or not there is an age restriction.
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- How much does it cost to book a hostel online?
A booking fee of US$2 applies to each booking made. Prices stated are per person, per night and payment is made on arrival at the hostel. To place a booking online, a 10% deposit is required for each room/night booked – this deposit will be deducted from the full room rate upon payment at the hostel.
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- Do I require a credit card to book online?
You need a valid credit card to make an online reservation.
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- Is this a secure web site?
The booking and confirmation section of the Hostel World website is secured to 128-bit encryption through Verisign. This is currently the highest standard of security available on the Internet and ensures that any information which you submit including your credit card details will remain completely confidential.
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- What are the current exchange rates?
When viewing room prices, you can choose to see the room rates in your chosen currency. These exchange rates are updated daily.
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- What happens if I need to cancel or change my reservations?
Any changes to your reservations must be notified directly to the individual hostels. We cannot process any cancellation or changes after you have received confirmation. Please email or phone the individual hostels. Most hostels will charge you a cancellation fee of the total of the first nights accommodation for a No Show or a cancellation with less than 24 hours notice.
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- Are these bookings guaranteed and confirmed?
Each online booking is guaranteed. The confirmation number provided for each booking will guarantee your bed at the hostel. This confirmation number will appear immediately on your Confirmation Page and will also be emailed to if you have provided an e-mail address. Please print out your confirmation and bring it with you to the hostel for a speedy check-in. If you do not have access to a printer, please make a note of your confirmation number.
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- Is there a discount system available?
There are no discounts available for group bookings. The discount offered is to holders of discount cards which are in circulation in Hostelworld.com hostels, tourist offices etc or to members of MyHostelworld.com. There is no charge for the card but it will reduce your cost by $1 every time you book a hostel through the website. If you would like to receive a Hostelworld.com discount card please e-mail info@hostelworld.com with details of your postal address and with Hostelworld.com discount card request as the subject line.
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- How early do I need to book ahead?
As a precaution, it is advisable to book as far ahead as possible. Throughout the year, the most popular hostels in main cities are booked out well in advance, particularly during the Summer months. Therefore it is recommended that you book ahead and guarantee a bed!
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- I stayed at a hostel booked through you guys and I have a complaint.
The hostels we list are all separate enterprises, and we do not own them or manage them, we simply provide the facility to accept online reservations. We advise that you direct your complaint to the hostel in question during your stay. However we do take all complaints seriously, and will monitor them, and forward them in turn to the hostel.
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- When I reserve my bed online, do I have to pay anything when I get to the hostel itself?
Yes. When you reserve online you pay an initial deposit only, not the full accommodation fee. This holds the bed for you. When you get to the hostel, you'll pay the balance, either with cash, credit card, etc., depending on the hostel (check with the hostel itself to see what forms of payment they accept).
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- I'm a hostel owner, how do I update my information, listings and rates?
This link will let you make the changes you need.
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- I'm a hostel owner, how do I sign up for these listings?
Go to this page to sign up.
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- Can you put me in touch with a hostel directly?
Not usually. We don't fill out or maintain the hostel listings; it's up to the hostel staff to make sure all their info is there and up to date, so we usually don't have information beyond what's on the page. If you need to get in touch with a hostel directly (e.g., you don't have a credit card but still want to make a reservation), please email us at and we'll do our best to help you out.
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- Can I arrange a group booking through you?
At the moment we cannot reserve group bookings online. We're working on it though.
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- How do I check availability?
When reading about a hostel, either click the "Book your bed" or "Check availability" links, or you can go to our main availability checker. These will tell you what you need to know.
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